Loading clamp



Nov. 28, 1933. Q M wHlTNEY 1,936,868

LOADING CLAMP Filed May 27, 1930 jgfd 4F, ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28,1933 Unirse STATES laatste PATENT cries LOADING CLAMP Application May27, 1930. serial No. 456,191

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a loading clamp for employment in iillingcylinders with various gases. Such cylinders, whenV nlled with petroleumvapors, have recently come into extensive use for providing gaseous fuelof high heat content in isolated localities where a piped supply v ofnatural or articial gas is not available.`

It is the present practice to secure admission ofthe petroleum'vapor tothe cylinder through a connection which requires a multiplicity ofoper,- ations to be gone through before communication to the cylinder isestablished. In one type of connection as many as fifteen diiierentoperations were necessary to connect a cylinder to a source for llingit. y

It is an object of the present invention to accomplish the connection oia cylinder with a loading supply line by means of a simple type ofconnection so that the time and number of operations required arereduced.

Another object of the invention is to devise a connection forestablishing communication with a cylinder which will enable theconnection to be made rapidly and so assist in making the loading of thecylinder easier and more accurate.

The invention possesses other advantageous features and objects, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the followingdescription where I shall outline in full that form of loading clamp ofmy invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawingaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. In saiddrawing I have shownone form of loading clamp embodying my invention,

' but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such formsince the invention, vas set forth in the claims, may be embodied in aplurality of forms.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section of a loadingclamp embodying my invention attached to a cylinder.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the loading clamp as attached to acylinder.

Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the loading j clamp in position forattachment to the cylinder.

Figure 4 is a cross section throughanother type or fitting for engagingthe cylinder to be loaded.

Brieiiy characterized my invention may be stated as comprising a iittingwhich is engaged with the loading cylinder to establish communicationtherewith as the result of a few simple op,- erations. In the form of myinvention illustrated in the drawing communication to a cylinder 6 ismade possible by attaching a loading clamp indicated generally at 7 to aloading connection 8 secured to the cylinder. The loading connection onthe cylinder is usually provided with a threaded nipple 9, communicationbetween the nipple and the cylinder 6 being controlled by a so valve 11in the loading connection 8.V l

In accordance with my invention a member 12 is provided which is adaptedto engage the body ofthe nipple 9 slidingly so that the time requiredfor making up or loosening a threaded connection with the nipple isobviated. The member 12 is carried in suitable means for securing it ina tight frictional engagement with the nipple so that fluid from asupply line 13 will pass into the cylinder and not be lost about the 70.connection. To accomplish this I provide a lever arm 14 carrying atogglerarm 16 in which the member 12 is slidingly received in a sleeve17. The member 12 is formed to provide a shoulder 18 which abuts againstthe sleeve 1'7 to limit its 75 movement with respect to the toggle arm.

Means are provided for locking the member 12 in engagement with theloading connection.

A link member 21 is hinged upon the lever arm 14 and upon a levercomprising spaced bars22 80 and 23. A second lever arm 24, substantiallysimilar in contour to lever arm 14, is hinged between the bars 22 and 23at a point 26, intermediate the ends of the lever arm. The lever arm 24is formed with a forked end 27, in which 85 is positioned a pin 29. Thepin 29 is adapted to be received by a hook 31 provided upon the togglearm 16 so that a toggle mechanism is provided which is capable of beingbroken to permit the positioning of the loading clamp onto the cylinderconnection and of being made up to bring the member 12 into tightfrictionalengagement with the loading connection.

Means are provided for biasing the loading member l2 against the loadingconnection when 95 the toggle mechanism is made up so that a very tightfrictional engagement between the member and the loading connection issecured. This is preferably done by providing a barrel 33 y in the link2l, the barrel carrying a spring 34 100 g and a sliding member againstwhich the spring works to force the sliding member into engagement withthe loading connection so that the member 12 is held in tight frictionalengagement with the loading connection. The spring 34 is 105 preferablyvery heavy, in one successful device which I have constructed it was'able to furnish approximately 400 pounds pressure upon a compression ofa quarter of an inch. Adjustment of no by an adjusting nut of theinvention this is secured by supporting the loading clamp 7 with a'lever carried in trunnions, the lever carrying a sliding weight whichwas adjusted so that the clamp and ling tube were maintained in'practically the same position at all times. The operator thus had theclamp and supply line always conveniently at hand.

' Figure '.4 I have illustrated fanothertype of connection. In this'instance `the supply lline 13 is welded to a vsocket 4'1, the 4'socketbeing vapertured Aas "at 42 to receive the .aired end 43 of the rsuppltTline. The member 12 is inserted through the toggle ,link :and isAthreadedly engaged with the socket 41'so that it bears against theVared 'end 43 Ato `establish a uid tight joint therewith.

:I fclaim:

.1. A Vloading clamp for :securing a charging nozzle to a receivingsocket, comprising: two outwardly projecting members engaged with saidnozzle, a link member pivotly connected to one of said projectingmembers and having a means adapted to engage the socket on the oppositeside from the nozzle, a second link member, one end of which is pivotlyconnected to the iirst link member and the other end of which is pivotlyconnected to a locking lever at a point suitably spaced from the end ofsaid lever, and a locking means on said lever adapted to engage acorresponding means on the second outwardly projecting member.

2. A loading clamp for securing a charging knozzle -to a receivingsocket, comprising: a slida- =ble yoke -on -said -nozzle with twoextended members; a .link member pivotly connected to one of saidmembers and provided with a pressure means adapted to engage the socketopposite to 'the nozzle; the second link member between the first oneand a locking lever, all pivotly connected; and a locking means on saidlever adapted'to engage a corresponding means on the Ysecond extendedmember.

y3. A loading clamp :or securing a nozzle to a socket, which comprises:`two outwardly projecting members engaged with said nozzle, a `linkmember pivotly connected to one of saidmemberS, an adjustable'.pressuremeans -fon Isaid link member 'adapted 'to engage the socket,the second linkmember between the rst-one rand a locking lever, allpivotly connected, and -lallocking means on .said lever ladapted tofengage a corresponding Smeans on Athe second projecting member.

' WHITNEY.

